Tbilisi. World Autism Awareness Day is marked on April 2. This day, initiated by the United Nations, serves to raise public awareness. ''Protection of the rights of persons with autism is related to many challenges in Georgia. It is problematic to ensure needs-based health care for people with autism and to provide continuous habilitation-rehabilitation services for them, taking into consideration the geographical accessibility. No state or municipal programmes envisage rehabilitation services for persons with autistic spectrum disorders above the age of 15. In addition, only few municipalities have similar programmes intended for children and they cannot fully cover the existing needs'', is noted in the statement. Read more… Source: www.ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. On 22 March 2019, Public Defender of Georgia presented a national study on reproductive and sexual health and rights, which was prepared with the support of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). At the opening of the event, the Public Defender noted that despite the progressive steps taken by the state, there remain systemic problems in terms of quality and accessibility of services, which lead to unaffordability of services, social barriers and lack of information. All of this has particular impact on the rights situation of ethnic minorities, persons with disabilities, women and girls in rural areas; there is no systemic approach to post-delivery services; children do not have complex education or full information about their body or reproductive health, which increases the risk of hazardous behavior. The study was carried out within the framework of the UN Joint Programme for Gender Equality, which is financially supported by the Swedish Government. Read more…  Source: The web-page of organization

Tbilisi. The Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association supports the strike of social workers and demands to launch real reforms in order to ensure decent working conditions for them. ''It is sad reality that over the years there have not been carried out real reforms in the direction of social protection, respectively, the quality and efficiency of work of the Social Service Agency remains a problem for a long period of time'', - is noted in the statement released by GYLA. Read more... Source:The website of the organization

Tbilisi. Week dedicated to the World Down Syndrome Day was opened on March 18 at the "Open Society Georgia Foundation” with a presentation of the first Information Center for parents of children having disabilities. "Parents Information Center” will serve as the first psycho-emotional aid center, which assists parents and those families that have children with a delay in development in their foster care. Beginning from March 19, there will be launched a hot line, through which interested people will obtain comprehensive and competent information regarding services available in Georgia. Read more… Source:https://osgf.ge

Tbilisi.  ''Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center'' (EMC) publishes an infographics regarding a number of those injured as a result of industrial accidents during different years.According to the data that EMC requested from the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia, the highest number of those injured as a result of industrial accidents has been detected in 2012, while that of casualties due to the same reason - in 2018. Read more… Source: The website of the organization

Tbilisi. Representatives of the organization visited a psychiatric institution on February 22, 2019 to provide legal assistance to people placed there. Information released by PHR states that according to explanation of a lawyer of the institution, people placed there do not require assistance from human rights defenders as the institution completely ensures solution of their legal problems with its own resources. Read more... Source:The website of the organization

Tbilisi. ''We wish you health, especially in Georgia'' - is a documentary film made in regard to a healthcare topic by ''Liberty Monitor'' and Studio ''Monitor'' through the support of the Open Society Foundations Network Program. The purpose of the film is to review problems existing in the policy, financing and system of healthcare and to initiate discussions. ''Liberty Monitor'' is a series of investigative coverages that ''Radio Liberty'' creates together with Studio ''Monitor''. Read more... Source: osgf.ge

Tbilisi. Part of civil society organizations releases a statement regarding facts of intoxication and death caused by supposedly unknown, powerful narcotic substance. ''We call on the Ministry of Health to establish an expanded working platform with involvement of other agencies, where, through participation of professional and interested groups, there will be determined specific steps to be made for prevention of such facts'', - the statement reads. Read more... Source:emc.org.ge

The Center for Training and Consultancy (CTC) conducted a presentation of a document that it had developed – ''Manual for development of health and care municipal programs''. ''The manual determines guidelines for elaboration and implementation of local self-government programs in the field of health and care'', - is stated on the website of the organization in a social network. Read more… Source:The website of the organization in a social network

Tbilisi. Transparency International – Georgia reviews an amendments to the law of Georgia on Labour Safety. ''According to the legislative initiative, starting from 1 September 201, the law of Georgia on Labour Safety will apply not only to the dangerous, heavy and hazardous labour and labour in dangerous conditions but to all sectors of economic activity,'' is noted in the statement. Read more… Source: www.transparency.ge

Tbilisi. Non-governmental organizations release a statement in regard to publicizing information about health condition of Ivane Merabishvili, former Prime Minister. ''We, the signatory organizations express our concern over a statement made by a special penitentiary service on September 24, 2018, which violates fundamental human rights protected by the both Constitution of Georgia and European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms'' – is noted in the joint statement. Read more... Source:gdi.ge

From September 17 through 22, non-governmental organization ''CiDA'' and Civil Society Regional Network (R-CSN) will conduct a civil week in regions of Georgia, in the framework of which thematic meetings on road safety issues are planned to take place. Partners of the campaign are Georgia Alliance for Safe Roads and APM Terminal Poti. ''The purpose of the civil week is to raise public awareness and knowledge on road safety, demonstrate necessity of timely technical inspection of vehicles and popularize healthy lifestyle'', - is stated on the website of the organization in a social network. Read more… Source:The website of the organization in a social network

Tbilisi. The Public Defender of Georgia addressed the Mayor of Akhmeta Municipality with a recommendation to take timely and complex measures for the improvement of situation in kindergartens. The monitoring carried out by the Public Defender's Office showed that situation in the kindergartens of the villages of Kistauri and Zemo Khodasheni, as well as Akhmeta kindergartens N5 and N6, is quite difficult; learning environment is inadequate; the kindergartens lack safety, physical-infrastructural and hygienic conditions. In full  Source: The Public Defender’s webpage

Tbilisi. Partnership for Human Rights (PHR) visited 7 psychiatric institutions. In Khoni and Surami lawyers were restricted three times to meet individuals living in mentioned institutions. In regard to these facts the organization submitted an application to the Ministry of Health twice. While visiting psychiatric institutions PHR conducted 22 legal consultations. Read more… Source:phrgeorgia.wordpress.com

Tbilisi. Part of civil society organizations releases a statement regarding the tragedy that took place in the Mindeli mineshaft in Tkibuli. ''The state should ensure operation of an efficient and effective labor supervision system in the shortest possible time, while the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia has to carry out an investigation on the incident in time and effectively and inform society about the progress of the investigation proactively'' – is noted in the joint statement. Read more… Source: www.osgf.ge

Tbilisi. In connection with pain management legislation and policy in Georgia, there was conducted an exhibition of photo art works of Georgian artists and carried out a discussion in the office of the Open Society Georgia Foundation. The purpose of the event was to inform citizens and succeed in making such legislative amendments, which help patients with chronic and incurable diseases to live their life with dignity and without pain. Read more… Source: The website of the organization

Tbilisi. Institute for development of freedom of information publishes statistics on patients funded for overseas treatment in 2015-2017. In 2015-2017, a total of 1,191 patients were provided funding for overseas treatment from the state budget, with 14.4 million GEL spent. The largest share of patients (35%) funded were seeking treatment for oncological problems. Read more… Source: www.datalab.ge

Tbilisi. On June 19, 2018, the Public Defender of Georgia addressed the Ministry of Education and Science and the Mestia Municipality Governor with a recommendation to ensure access to safe water and rehabilitation of sanitation infrastructure in public schools of the villages of Muzhali and Becho, Mestia Municipality. ''The Public Defender recommends urgent measures to be taken in order to solve the problem of water supply, sanitation and hygiene, and to rehabilitate toilets. Timely steps should be taken in order to rehabilitate the public school of the village of Becho and to ensure water supply in the public school of the village of Muzhali'', is noted in the statement. Read more… Source: ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. On June 18, 2018, the Consultative Council for Promotion, Protection and Monitoring of the Implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities held its 15th meeting. At the meeting, the Head of the Department of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities presented information about the implemented and planned activities in the direction of protection and monitoring of the rights of persons with disabilities. Special attention was paid to the topic of mental health, challenges in the field of inclusive education and the importance of taking into account the needs of persons with disabilities at the local level. Read more… Source: ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. The Public Defender annually speaks about the rights of these persons, which has remained a challenge in Georgia for years. ''Among the problems are realization of the right of persons with disabilities to health and social protection, provision of adequate rehabilitation/habilitation services for children and adults with disabilities, realization of reproductive and sexual health rights for women/girls with disabilities. An important challenge is access the physical environment. It is problematic for persons with disabilities to enjoy public facilities, educational institutions, municipal transport or road infrastructure throughout the country''. Read more…  Source: ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. Public Defender Nino Lomjaria, together with members of the Special Preventive Group, monitored Tbilisi’s public school No 202 (boarding school for blind children). The school provides boarding services to children with visual and other accompanying impairments within the framework of the special education program. The Public Defender met and talked with schoolchildren, teachers and other staff of the school, and examined the school’s physical environment. Many violations have been identified as a result of the visit, which impede the efficient realization of the right to education of children with disabilities. It is problematic to equip the school with proper educational and support resources, control the quality education, prepare the beneficiaries of the boarding house for independent life and inclusion in the society. Read more… Source: ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. UNICEF alongside with the Ministry of Labour, Health and Social affairs, Social Service Agency and organization Save the Children held two-day workshop for neonatologists, pediatricians and neurologists working in maternity homes and children's hospitals in Tbilisi, Georgia. ''The role of the doctors was discussed in timely identification of developmental disorders, promoting children's development and protection against violence. Also, how to properly inform parents about the developmental disorders and diagnosis in order to avoid institutionalization of children and to make sure they are timely referred to existing services'', is noted in the statement. In full… Source: The webpage of the organization in a social network